Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-12
YELLOW JACK"
Attracting Attention fron Its Presence
In Tampa
Especial Correspondencei

In Tampa
Especial Correspondence
JACKSONVILLE, Nov. 7.-Fiorida il til
only state, 50 far as known. in which ther
has been yellow fever this year. Il made it
appearance in Key West in the latter part O
May, and disappeared before the middle o
August. II was of a very mild type, and tn
percentage Of the sick who died was yer,
small. The origin of the fever Is not j,
doubt 1t is agreed that it was brought from
Havana by family Of Cubans, who brough
with them some bedding which had been uset
by yellow fever patient.
The outbreak at Key Nss., occurring S,
early in the season, alarmed al the Floi id;
towns, and excited apprehensions of DANCE
even i'll Charleston and Savannah. A visor
Gus sanitary movement was at once inaug
urated, and in a little while the health au
thorities of the different towns announced
that every possible precaution hsd been takeI
against the fever The only place abou
which much alarm was felt was Tampa. Tn,
opinion was frequently expressed that there
If anywhere, the fever would obtain a lodge
ment on the mainland of Florida, and tim,
proved its CorfectneSS
The announcement Of the appearance oi
the fever at Tampa, although the season we.
far advanced, was followed by exhibitions OF
the widest alarm in all the towns of Florida
on the lines of railroad. Quarantine
against the infected city was at once estab
hshed, and travel became almost impossible
The fear which yellow fever cxcites in places
which have been afflicted with the disease il
something that cannot be explained The
reports Of the appearance of smallpox
typhoid fever and even diphtheria are re
ceived almost with indifference. but yellow
fever, although far less fatal than any of the
diseases mentioned, causes such terror that
everybody vino can get away from an infect
ed place does So with DELAY
The reason yellow fever is so dreaded Is
that when it becomes epidemic about every
body is attacked. and in severe epidemics
even those who are regarded Us acclimated
do not escape The very general belief Is
that one is not liable to second attack, but
experience proves that this belief is not well
founded. There is not city in this country,
which has suffered in late years from yellow
fever epidemics, where there cannot be found
persons who have had the fever more than
once. In New Orleans this is especially true
A great many people died in that city from
the fever during the great epidemic of 1878
WIN VI pHh ol eSl1De
hshed reputation showing that they had suf-
fered from the yellow fever in previous cpl
denies.
The captain of one of the finest steamers
running between New York and a South At
lantic port has. perhaps, had the yellow fever
more times than any other living man. He
is little past 30 Years of age. and is in the
enjoyment of robust health He does not ap-
year to he more than ~, and it is doubtful if
he feels rs if be We're beyond that age.
His experience with yellow fever is such ),
remarkable one that it would be worth the
while OF those interested in the study Of that
disease to give it more than a passing 10
tice. The first time he was attacked lie was
Oh the wTst coast of Africa, in lS49. lie was
tten on'y u well grown lad and was noted
for his uniformly good health. He was sick
three months and was not expected to re-
cover. The length of his illness was due to
relaps. and the excessive weakness which
followed it. His second attack was in Cal
CUTE, but il was a light one. There was NJ
doubt, however, about the character Of his
sickness. His third attack was at New Or
lea Is during the terrible epidemic of 1853,
wien people died 50 fast that it was impossi-
lie to bury them decently. Indeed, there
scre not enough well people to pre-
rtaye the bodies for burial. and they were
thrown into trenches as they were taken
from their beds, and co-ered without funeral
ceremonies Of any kind The captain, whose
experience is here related, was not expected
to recover, but his iron Constitution stood
the strain. and after forty days he was able
t. attend TO his duties on shipboard again
Ills fourth attack was at Rio Janeiro, in 1855,
snd it WIS a bad one. The Masons of that
city, however. nursed him through it, and
after n months illness he was able to be about
again In $50, in the same city, he was
again stricken down with the dreaded dis
ease, and the attack was SO severe that but
little hope was entertained of his recovery.
The physician who attended him expressed
the opinion that if he recovered he would
enjoy exceptionally good health. or, as lie
put it, he would be new man" This
opinion proved TO be correct, rs the captain
seldom suffers from sickness of any kind.
One of the reasons why yellow fever ex-
cites so much alarm is that physicians do not
know anything about it. They are all the
time experimenting. The treatment is diff
fercnt in almost every epidemic. New Or
leans is thought to have the best yellow fever
doctors in this country. and yet their treat,
ment Of the disease is radically different from
what it was twenty years ago. Before the
war q patient was dosed with calomel and
castor oil He was given a mustard foot
bcth and wrapped in blankets. The windows
and doors were kept closed, as it was thought
there was more danger of catching cold from
fresh air than benefit to be derived from it.
Now the treatment does not include the calo-
mel nd oil, the blankets, nor the closed
room. Every effort is made TO increase tbs
patients comfort, and be is strengthened Il
esary way for the purpose of Offering the
s. safest possible resistance to the disease
L. n T.